Logitech Z4 Computer Speakers

While not for the hardcore audiophile, Logitech's Z4 line provides a good choice for a basic or startup computer speaker solution -- especially for the price point.

PROS DETAILS:

Good design. Pain-free setup. No driver downloads or related nonsense required (on a Mac... Windows PC users may need to deal with the usual "plug-n-pray" syndrome). Handy desktop remote includes mini-pin jacks for headphones and MP3 player.

CONS DETAILS:

Audio quality is somewhat brittle on the high end and exhibits rather hollow bass response at higher volume levels... still, it's not bad for the money.

DESIGN:

Attractive, shiny black and silver-trimmed plastic satellite speakers with a small footprint will probably blend in well with your other components. The materials look and feel more expensive than they are. Time will tell if they hold up and are easy to keep clean. I'm a little nervous that the satellite speakers offer no protection for the speakers themselves... a snap-on metal grill to protect them would be nice. Logitech might want to consider that as an after-market add-on.

The subwoofer is a 9 inch by 9 inch black cube that offers a reasonably heavy duty metal grill to protect it from the errant involuntary under-the-desk foot kick. It's surprisingly heavy (a good thing, since it feels well made).

A big plus in the design department is the wired desktop remote control. It was actually the selling point for my purchase. It features a nice big volume knob that moves smoothly and bespeaks quality too often reserved for more expensive systems. It includes a separate bass volume knob that controls the subwoofer, a (slightly too bright) blue LED power light indicator, an on-off power button, and, maybe best of all, two mini-pin jacks that accept headphones or input from an MP3 player. All of these features are nicely integrated into a controller that requires only about 4 by 2.5 inches of precious desk space. Well done, Logitech.

SETUP:

Setup on my Mac was seamless. No complaints at all. Everything is well-labeled, so you probably won't even need to refer to the large, well-designed wiring diagram included in the package. The packaging itself is mostly made from materials that my local municipal recycling service accepts. I plugged in the components, turned on my Mac, and listened to music within ten minutes. Imagine that.

PERFORMANCE:

Here's where things get just slightly muddy. The satellite speakers sound overly bright... almost brittle. The subwoofer sounds a bit lumpy, hollow and muddy... especially at high volume levels. Still, at flat output, the rated frequency response on the package may be a bit modest. It's probably a little bit better than what Logitech states on the box. A little experimentation with the graphic equalizer built into iTunes (which I use for most audio playback) yielded satisfactory results. I generally listen to music at fairly low volume levels while working. At lower volume levels, this system sounds surprisingly acceptable. If you like to crank things up, you might want to spend more money. Pay more, cry once.